Grant Lee Buffalo has an Americana-tinged sound, clearly influenced by the likes of Neil Young and elements of old-fashioned country music, and often tackled political and social issues in their lyrics (for example, "Lone Star Song" from Mighty Joe Moon references the infamous Waco siege). They toured with major bands of the early-to-mid 1990s such as R.E.M., Pearl Jam and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Lady Godiva and Me
Grant Lee Buffalo Lyrics
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Upon a great cock horse hair to her knees
I wore a Minotaur's Mask and I played the Moon Cow
I was the last to see her anyhow
No one's gonna lay eyes to see
Lady Godiva and me
Till the Peeping Tom's peeping had stricken poor Peeping Tom blind
Even those things that we know can't be seen with two eyes
And all those who look her over are surely to die
No one's gonna lay eyes to see
Lady Godiva and me
Burn up the fields of your hallowed fuel
Hotter than you ought to be
Bury my bones in the stinking sands
Casino for the world to see
I got the mean streak
I got the mean streak
I got the mean streak
The folks uptown they live on meat
The things they say I can't repeat
When you're walking down there
Down there
No one's gonna lay eyes to see
Lady Godiva and me
The song "Lady Godiva and Me" by Grant Lee Buffalo is a mysterious and slightly haunting narrative about the legendary tale of Lady Godiva. The lyrics describe Lady Godiva's famous ride, where she rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to protest against her husband's oppressive taxes. The singer, who wears a Minotaur's mask and plays the moon cow, claims to have been the last person to see Lady Godiva. The song also references Peeping Tom, who famously spied on Lady Godiva and was struck blind as punishment for his actions.
The lyrics of the song also contain an overarching theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The singer suggests that those who gaze upon Lady Godiva are doomed to die, regardless of what they see or don't see. The chorus repeats the line "No one's gonna lay eyes to see Lady Godiva and me," perhaps hinting at the idea that the singer and Lady Godiva have transcended mortality and are now beyond the reach of death.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation and the overall meaning of the song is somewhat ambiguous. The haunting melody and evocative lyrics create a sense of mystery and intrigue that make the song both beautiful and unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
She rides unclothed through the streets of Coventry
Lady Godiva rode naked on a horse through a city.
Upon a great cock horse hair to her knees
The horse she rode was massive and had long hair.
I wore a Minotaur's Mask and I played the Moon Cow
The singer disguised himself as a mythical creature and played a fictional animal.
I was the last to see her anyhow
The artist was the last person to see Lady Godiva ride through the city.
No one's gonna lay eyes to see
No one else will witness the events that the artist witnessed.
Lady Godiva and me
Just the singer and Lady Godiva saw what happened.
Peeping Tom watched the whole thing from the sidelines
Someone named Peeping Tom watched Lady Godiva ride naked through the city.
Till the Peeping Tom's peeping had stricken poor Peeping Tom blind
Peeping Tom watched so much that he became blind.
Even those things that we know can't be seen with two eyes
The experience was so intense that it went beyond what can be seen with normal eyesight.
And all those who look her over are surely to die
The experience of seeing Lady Godiva is so powerful that it might kill anyone who witnesses it.
Burn up the fields of your hallowed fuel
Destroy the things that you hold dear and sacred.
Hotter than you ought to be
Do it with more intensity than what is appropriate or expected.
Bury my bones in the stinking sands
When the singer dies, they want to be buried in a dirty, unpleasant place.
Casino for the world to see
The world will witness the singer's burial in a place where people gamble.
I got the mean streak
The singer has a tendency to be cruel or aggressive.
The folks uptown they live on meat
Wealthy people often live very comfortably and indulge in extravagant things.
The things they say I can't repeat
The artist is aware of what wealthy people say about him or her, but cannot share the details.
When you're walking down there
When you are among wealthy people.
No one's gonna lay eyes to see
No one else will witness the singer's experiences or thoughts.
Lady Godiva and me
The artist feels a connection to Lady Godiva who shared a similar experience.
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